Government Center drama miffs Goshen businesses

GOSHEN — Diana Lupinski was waiting for her first customers after arranging her lettuce and radishes Friday at the farmers market on the corner of Main and South Church streets.

James Walsh

GOSHEN — Diana Lupinski was waiting for her first customers after arranging her lettuce and radishes Friday at the farmers market on the corner of Main and South Church streets.

Patronage has thinned by about 40 percent since the closure of the county's Government Center nearly three years ago, said Lupinski, who's the market manager, as well as a vendor. She was not pleased construction to rebuild the center, scheduled to begin in July, had been scuttled.

First came revelations surprising the county Legislature this month that state officials were upset the planned renovations would mar a landmark by brutalist architect Paul Rudolph.

Come Monday, County Executive Steve Neuhaus is expected to seek proposals from consultants, including architects and engineers, for the construction of an entirely new building. The shuttered building, Neuhaus has said, could be sold instead of renovated. Manhattan architect Gene Kaufman has proposed preserving it for artist studios and community meeting space.

"I think they should stop doing studies," Lupinski said. "Now that there's a possibility of selling the center, start construction on the old county jail site. Start moving on!"

Down the block at High Withers Wine and Spirits, proprietor Michael Tagarello wondered out loud why the landmark-status question was such a surprise.

"Why didn't the consultants know about that?" Tagarello said. "It's what, three years since the Government Center closed, and they're still not sure what they're going to do? That's beyond government being slow "» You make a business decision and you stick with it."

The county already has spent more than $1 million on plans for the Government Center.

Lynne Cione, executive director of the Goshen Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber hadn't issued an opinion on the latest plan. She said, though, that she wanted the county to finally resolve the issue, which has caused pain for many downtown merchants.

"It's very frustrating," said Rose Shevchuk, proprietor of Goshen Gourmet Cafe. "We're going into three years, and nothing's changed. It's hurt my business tremendously."

She and other merchants experience days when the downtown is virtually empty. Rows of parking spaces stand vacant. Pedestrians are an endangered species.

Lupinski recalled years past, when crowds patronized the farmers market on the village green, then strolled to shops and eateries across the street and down the block.

The farmers and business owners like Shevchuk miss not only the county workers displaced by the building closure, but also people going to the offices of the county clerk and motor vehicles.

They've also felt the impact of a car dealership moving out of the village, and the closure of a hospital.

"They need to make a decision," Shevchuk said. "They need to take action. We elected them to do a job."